Developer Michael Buffington lists his productivity triggers, the things that help him get into the ever-elusive but oh-so-desirable state of "flow." In addition to the right music, noise-cancelling headphones and caffeine, he points out:

Competition. When I feel like what I'm doing is in close competition with something else, I get a bit crazy and engrossed. I also get engrossed in games for this same reason.
Approaching cutoff time. I have four hours to get good work done. Surprisingly, this is a powerful trigger for me.

Being one of those "work better under pressure" types, I wholeheartedly agree with the approaching deadline as a productivity kickstarter. What types of things get you into the flow? Post 'em up in the comments. — Gina Trapani